Images from the magical world... Image via Pixabay

THEMES

January 17, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

One thing I love about fairytales (and fantasy in general) is that the themes the stories tackle are themes I adore. For example, justice will happen eventually and monsters will be defeated. I list five themes in Themes that particularly appeal to me.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Keep on Keeping On was one of my late mother’s favourite phrases and it emphasizes the need for persistence and not to give up easily. That is vital for us as writers if we are not to be knocked back by rejections. It is also crucial for our characters to be able to show real grit and persistence.

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I discuss what I like most All You Need to Know about Classical Music and why it is important writers are thoroughly nosey!

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The ultimate book circle perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

The ultimate book circle perhaps? Certainly enough stories to start with! Image via Pixabay.

BOOKS FOR THE MAGICAL WORLD

January 16, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Books for the Magical World, I suggest what volumes would be likely to appear on people’s bookshelves. I’ve excluded standard spell and charm books and the classic fairytales but have included things like Wand Size – Does it Matter? (one for the more insecure wizard I think) to Voice Coaching – How to Perfect that Cackle for the beginner fairytale witch who wants to get her “sound” right.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

How Important is Reading is one of those questions that have inspired reports, essays, academic papers and so on, so how can I answer it in a blog post? By focusing on answering it from your characters’ viewpoint. Do they read and, if so, what? Do they try to read the books their society bans and so on?

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I discuss book and story formats tonight. This follows on from my recent Chandler’s Ford Today post about the Blood and Valour comic book/graphic novel. I like this kind of thing as these are splendid artworks in their own right and I feel an invaluable aid to coaxing in the reluctant reader. I also discuss audio books.

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Main Cover – Blood and Valour. Image supplied by Eastleigh Borough Council. Glorious artwork and a great way of bringing in reluctant readers.

Says it all really and ties in with my post tonight for This World and Others. Image via Pixabay.

THE JOY OF BOOKS

January 15, 2017Leave a comment

It’s spot the theme night tonight!

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Joy of Books looks at well the joy of books for one thing but also asks whether your characters read for pleasure. Also, do your characters take in their stories via print or do they use other media to do so? How do your characters “use” their literacy?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

In Reading, ask how literate is your world and if reading is encouraged or viewed with suspicion? (Reading can generate ideas, after all, some of which at least could be threatening to those in power). Are there libraries? Can anyone access them?

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I talk about the various books I have on my Kindle – everything from C.S. Lewis to Doctor Who to short stories to fantasy to history (fact and fiction). I conclude by wondering if someone found my Kindle, would they consider me a confused reader or someone who couldn’t make up their mind as to what they read? For me, variety is the spice of my reading life.

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The Kindle – modern reading for a modern era. Image via Pixabay.

LEGENDS AND MYTHS

January 14, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

My posts tonight revolve around my Chandler’s Ford Today post for this week, which is about the latest Road to Agincourt Project on Sir Bevis of Hampton, Southampton’s legendary mascot. More on that further down. But for Fairytales With Bite, I take the idea of legends and myths and look at how these should come into your fiction, especially if your stories involve any kind of world building. My Legends and Myths post discusses why a fictional world needs its own legends and myths to make it seem more real and give good reasons for inspiring your characters’ actions.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Words and Pictures again shares a link to my CFT post but also looks at how prose/poetry writers should still be seeking to conjure up strong images in our readers so they will want to keep on reading to the end of our story/book. That is the writer’s challenge, whether we write graphic novels/comic books or straight prose/poetry.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

One of the things I love about writing for CFT is the fact I’ve been able to write about two of my great loves – books and history – on a regular basis. Tonight’s post, Introducing Guy Stauber – Marvel at Sir Bevis Comic – combines both and shares news of Blood and Valour, a graphic novel/comic book due out in the spring, about the adventures of Sir Bevis of Hampton.

Blood and Valour is part of the Road to Agincourt Project. I’ve written several posts connected with them over the last year or so (and have always learned something interesting from them. For instance, until recently, I didn’t know there was the wreckage of a medieval ship in a local river – and part of this is visible at times from the motorway which runs nearby).

Sir Bevis’s adventures first appeared in tapestries and it is known Henry V read them this way (hence the link to Agincourt). Now the tales are being given a very modern airing in graphic novel form.

Guy Stauber, who has worked with Marvel, Disney and DC Comics, is producing some of the artwork for this project and the post talks about that and shares some of his stunning images. Matt Beames is writing Blood and Valour and it is also illustrated by Marcus Pullen but to have Guy on board for this project is a real coup for them. I’m looking forward to seeing the comic when it comes out as I’m a huge fan of anything that encourages reluctant readers to get “into” books. I believe that graphic fiction is and can be a great contributor there.

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All about my CFT post tonight with links and images.

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Tonight’s CFT post shares some of Guy’s stunning artwork for the Sir Bevis of Hampton comic, written by Matt Beames and also illustrated by Marcus Pullen. Image supplied by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Tapestries told stories - the Sir Bevis of Hampton legends just being part of this. Image via Pixabay.

WHILE IN THE MAGICAL WORLD…

January 13, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

While in the Magical World, Don’t Forget gives five tips for what you should bear in mind if you ever find yourself visiting a magical universe. Could be a life saver this…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Five Top Tips shares some pointers I’ve found useful in creating characters especially. For example, studying human nature gives a wonderful look into motivations for different groups of people (why do criminals act the way they do is just one example of this). You can then, of course, apply those motivations to your characters, knowing they are rooted in reality.

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I give a preview of what is coming up in my Chandler’s Ford Today post due to appear tomorrow (Friday 13th – am not superstitious!). My post will be another article in the Road to Agincourt series and looks at a forthcoming graphic novel called Blood and Valour. A very special illustrator is involved in this (has worked for Marvel and Disney no less!) and the novel is about local (Southampton, UK) legend, Sir Bevis of Hampton. More tomorrow. Will say the Agincourt posts are huge fun to write as I love history and I always learn something as I research them.

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The old way of writing a story! Image via Pixabay

Sir Bevis’s story used to be told in tapestries, now there will be a graphic novel about him! Image via Pixabay

One of the best ways to escape is with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK YOUR CHARACTERS?

January 12, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What Would You Ask Your Characters if you Could is a good exercise. Putting your characters through their paces so to speak helps you to know them really well and so you should then write (for/about) them more convincingly. I share three questions that could be useful for you to ask your “people”.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

When Push Comes to Shove continues the theme of knowing your characters well enough to write (for/about) them convincingly. And putting your characters through hell is a good way to find out what they are really well enough and whether they are strong enough to be in your story. A weak character still has the potential to be in your story just as long as they are crucial to the plot.

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I discuss the snow that’s due tomorrow, how it will make for a good evening in for reading, and how weather can be used as a character in itself in fiction. I don’t do this myself but the best example is in The Lord of the Rings I think.

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Two formats for reading and Chandler's Ford library stocks both. Image via Pixabay.

A cold night = more reading perhaps. Image via Pixabay.

Fiction or not, books are the gateways to other worlds. Image via Pixabay.

SIGNS YOUR DAY IS ABOUT TO WORSEN…

January 11, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Signs your Day is about to Worsen shares five such signs and includes discovering talking bears as you go for a pleasant forest walk. Then there’s narrowly avoiding being hit by a falling farmhouse (and you realise you must be in a world where falling masonry is simply not good enough, it has to be the whole building). Oh, and spotting your first dragon can make you realise you should’ve taken up speed running when you were younger. Still, you can always start now…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Grumpy Characters, as well as playing tribute to a certain star of Snow White, looks at reasons why your characters (or at least some of them) would have good cause to be on the grumpy side. I list frustration (of all sorts!) to resentment (doesn’t have to be justified) to experiencing injustice. So what would make your characters grumpy and do they ever get out of this state? If so, how and why?

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I share my thoughts on what makes a good story, wonder why younger relatives can accept the existence of The Tudors yet oddly not the fact there was life before the smart phone, to my memories of typewriters and other machines I’ve worked on in my time. (Nearly all of these will have been consigned to a museum by now!).

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Where stories used to start… image via Pixabay.

Imagine the wealth of fairytales and other stories in here. Image via Pixabay.

CHARACTER CRITERIA

January 10, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Character Criteria lists five attributes I like to see in a character and many can apply to villains, as well as heroes/heroines. Do you agree with my list? What would you add? I include, amongst others, reliability, empathy and courage.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

It’s a night for lists. In Asking the Awkward Questions I list five questions (also a big night for the number five for me!), which I think it pays authors to ask every now and then. For example, why am I writing about this world? You need to convey what is special about this setting that made you have to write about it. Get that through to your reader and they’ll run with the vision with you.

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I share some news of what this week’s Chandler’s Ford Today post will be about and am pleased to say, as part of it, there will be some stunning artwork, which I’m looking forward to sharing. The CFT post will go up on Friday.

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Books really are the gatekeepers. Image via Pixabay.

And a great thing about books is their wide variety of genres and formats, including stunning comic books. Image via Pixabay.

Books help you wind down. Was glad of them after a stressful weekend. Pity this option is not available to my border collie. Still lots of cuddles did the trick there! Image via Pixabay.

TEN THINGS NEVER TO TELL A FAIRY GODMOTHER

January 9, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I’m back to my lists again with Ten Things Never to Tell a Fairy Godmother (well, I’m assuming you like living). From the “you’re not as good as you used to be” to the “there’s not much difference between you and a good witch”, there is plenty to insult the average fairy godmother should you wish to do so. As ever, can you add to the list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Spotting the Difference highlights three ways of showing differences between two characters during dialogue in a story without the need to say Character A said this, Character B said that continually. There are more ways than this but the three ways I list here are the ones that struck me as being the most useful.

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I discuss my favourite things about reading and writing tonight. Do you agree with my verdicts? If not, what would you choices be?

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sg-part-2-books-whether-poetry-or-prose-can-be-magical-image-via-pixabay

Books and stories are wonderful but what would be your favourite things about reading and writing?

FAVOURITE CHARACTER TYPES

January 8, 2017January 8, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Favourite Character Types lists my three favourites. These are the reluctant hero, the misunderstood character who isn’t the evil so-and-so everyone thought, and the heroine who is as good as the hero and often better. I give some examples and say what I would have liked to have seen happen with regard to Severus Snape (who comes in the second one on my list). See what you think.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Anniversaries shares some questions which could lead to interesting stories, such as which anniversaries are banned by the authorities of your ficitonal world and what happens to anyone defying that ban. Also if Character A thinks a certain anniversary is important but Character B does not, how does that affect their relationship?

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I’ve found a way of catching up with my magazine reading – get on the exercise bike and pedal away as I read. I also share up to date news about Mabel, my border collie, and wonder if inconsiderate swimmers who don’t look where they’re going also happen to be Audi drivers. So a nice mixed bag here!

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Shakespeare had his quill, modern writers have their laptops. Image via Pixabay.

Such a familiar look. Image via Pixabay.